Piano-action



(No Model.) J. C. PRICE.

PIANO ACTION.

N0. 395,078. Patented Deo. 25, 1888.

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VUNITED STATES PATENT OEETCE.

JOSEPH CONRAD PRICE, OF BALTHIORE, MARYLAND.

PlANOiACTiON.

'SPECFCATON forming 'part of Letters Patent No. 395,078, dated December 25, 1888.

Application tiled September 17, 188B. Serial No. 285,650. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH CONRAD PRICE, of Baltimore city, in the State of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Piano-Actions, ot' which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in pianos, and seeks to provide a simple construction by which to avoid the looseness of action of the key-levers consequent upon the lost motion between the hammer butt and jack when the hammers are raised toward the strings when the soft pedal is operated, and preserve the desired elasticity of touch under all circumstances.

The invention consist-s in the novel constructions and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

ln the d awings, Figure l is a cross-section ot a portion ot' an upright piano provided with my improvements, parts being broken away and others shown in section. Fig. 2 is an elevation of part ot' my improvement. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are detail views illustrating vrthe key-litter.

By my invention l seek to provide convenient, simple constructions tor lifting the rear ends of the keys when the sott pedal is operated to correspond with the movement of the hammer-rest, effected by such movement of the sottI pedal, so as to preserve the elasticity of thekeys and cause all parts to work in harmony with each other.

The keys A are suitably supported, and maybe suitably constructed and connected at their rear ends to operate the hammers.

The key-frame B or the key-bottom E, below the keys, supports the key-lifter (l, which lifter forms a rest for the rear end of the keys and serves as a means of elevating the rear end of the keys, as desired. This litter extends the length of the key-board Aunder all the keys, and is hinged at its front or inner edge at c to the key-trame B or key-bottom E, so it may be tilted on such hinge and be so elevated to litt the keys, the litter being properly cushioned on its upper side to torni a proper seat for the keys.

It will be noticed that the lifter is hinged on or at the upper side Of the trame B or keybottom E, and has a portion which extendsI down to the lower side of the key bottom or trame E, at the rear edge of the latter.

In the construction shown in Figs. l and Il the main or body portion ot' the lit'ter is arranged above the key-bottom E, and a wing or flange-like portion, C, depends from the rear side of the said body portion along the rear edge of the said bottom E to the lower side thereof.

In the construction shown in Figs. l and 5 the body portion ot' the l i tter is arranged along the rear edge of the key-traine.

The construction shown in Figs. l and 23 maybe preferred, as thereby the hinges otA the litter are relieved of the weight of the litter when the latter is, at rest, such weight being borne by the training, as shown.

To operate the litter, l provide the sottpedal rocker D, at one end, with a projection or portion, d, arranged to engage the litter and elevate the saine as the soft pedal F is depressed, such sot't pedal being properly connected with the rocker D to operate same, as will be understood from Fig. l.

The projection d preteraljrly has a screwstem threaded into the rocker so the height otl said part d may be adjusted. At its opposite ond the rocker is eonneeiml with a slide-rml, which in operai ion moves downward and raises the hammer-rest when the soft pedal is operated, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. It will be seen that as 4the hammer-rest is adjusted to vary the position ot the hammersl for sott pedal, sott touch, or sott blow thekeys will belitted at their rear ends, keeping the jacks in the proper position at the hanuner-butts, preserving the elasticity of the touch, and avoiding t-he looseness ot action ot' the key-levers, as referred to hcreinbefore.

Havingthus described my invention, what l claim as new isl. In a piano, the combination of the key bottom or frame, theli t'ter arranged at the rear edge ot such bottom and movable, whereby it may be operated to lill the keys, the rocker D, arranged close below said bottom, pivoted between its ends and having an end engaging the lifter and its opposite end connected IOO with the soft pedal, and the rod connecting The Combination, with the keys and the such soft pedal with the rocker D, snbstanframe below the saine, of the lifter having a tially as set forth. body portion rested upon and hinged to said 2. The Combination, with the keys and the frame and provided With a depending portion 5 frame, of the lifter arranged under the rear extended down alongside the rear edge of 15 ends of the keys, such lifter being,` hinged at sneh frame, substantially as set forth.

the npperrside of the frame and provided JOSEPH CONRAD PRICE. with a portion extended down to the lower Witnesses: side of the said frame, substantially as set i FREDERICK CoURTIoE,

1o forth. i FREDERICK WM. COURTICE. 

